Drapery pleat forming device



Aug. 15, 1961 E. w. HUDSON DRAPERY PLEAT FORMING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1957 afro/@V546 United States Patent C) 2,996,116 DRAPERY PLEAT FORMING DEVICE Emmit W. Hudson, Rte. 1, Box 627, Escondido, Calif. Filed Nov. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 694,553 1 Claim. (Cl. 16o-348) This invention relates to drapery pleat forming device, and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a drapery pleat forming device which comprises pairs of foldable frames adapted for insertion in a series of pockets formed in the top hem of a drape and secured therein by the conventional heading hooks or similar devices used to suspend the drape from a traverse rod or window rod, and which causes the drape to fold into uniform and attractive pleats when the drape is retracted.

Second, to provide a drapery pieat forming device which also functions as a heading hook locating means to facilitate accurate placement of the heading hooks, and in addition distributes the load imposed on the drapery material.

Third, to provide a drapery pleat forming device which is particularly simple and economical of manufacture, involving the use of only two members which may be identical in construction and which may be readily molded from plastic material.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a Ifragmentary view showing the upper portion of the wall side of a drape in its extended position and showing the present invention incorporated in the hem thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the drape and drapery pleat forming device in their extended positions;

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view with the drapery pleat forming device shown in plan, and with the device shown in its folded position and the drape in its pleated position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken throu-gh 4--4 o-f FIG. 1, showing the manner in which a heading hook is employed to join the pleat forming device to the drape;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the frame members comprising the drapery pleat Iforming device.

The drapery pleat forming device comprises a pair of identical frame members 1, preferably formed of plastic material. Each frame member 1 includes a hinged side 2 having a singie hinge web 3 and a double hinge web 4 thereon. The single hinge web 3 of each frame member fits between the double hinge web 4 of the other frame member.

The single hinge webs 3 have rudimentary bosses 5 on their sides which fit into corresponding recesses formed in the double hinge webs 4. The plastic material from which the frames are molded has sufcient resiliency that the hinge webs may be snapped into interlocking engagement so that the frame members 1 may pivot about an axis defined by the bosses 5.

The hinged side 2 of each frame lmember 1 constitutes 2,996 ,1 16 Patented VAug'. v1K5, 1961 ICC a vertical side and is joined to horizontally extending top and bottom sides 6. The top and bottom sides include curved portions '7 in the region adjacent the hinged sides 2, so that when the frame members are in their relatively extended position they define, in a horizontal plane, an arch as shown in FIG. 2, with the hinges formed by the webs 3 and 4 located at the concave side of the arch. The top and bottom sides 6 are joined to vertically disposed extended sides 8.

Each extended side 8 is provided with a pair of loop lugs or eyelets 9 extending from the same surface as the hinge webs 3 and 4. The loop lugs 9 are so arranged as to define a vertical axis contiguous to the surface of each extended side 8.

The drapery pleat forming device is adapted to be used with a drape 10 having a large hem 11 at its upper end. The hem 11 is preferably provided with a folded lower margin 12. The hem 11 is provided with vertical stitching 13 which divides the hem 11 into a series of pockets 14 and 15. 'Ihe pockets 14 are of sufficient width as to receive the hinged frame members when in their extended position shown in FIG. 2. The pockets 15 are somewhat narrower and merely serve to space the pockets 14.

Each pair of loop lugs 9 is arranged to receive a heading hook 16. A conventional heading hook suitable for use with the drapery pleat forming device includes an elongated stern 17 pointed at one end. The other end of the stern 17 is formed into an open loop 18 to form a leg 19 which terminates in a hook Z0.

The hook 20 is intended to tit over a curtain rod or traverse rod, or may be attached to any one of several types of suspension elements, not shown, which form a part of glide devices intended to slide readily in or on a curtain rod or traverse rod.

The drapery pleat forming device is utilized as follows:

A series of the devices is inserted in a series of the pockets 14. Each device is spread to its extended position, such as shown in FIGS. l and 2, whereupon the stem 17 of a heading hook 16 is threaded upwardly through the cloth comprising the hem 11 and through a pair of loop lugs 9, as shown in FIG. 4.

The drapery pleat forming device is not only secured by the heading hook 16, but serves to locate the position of the heading hook accurately relative to the top edge of the hem 11 so as to facilitate even hanging of the drape. Also the loop lugs 9 serve to reinforce the fabric and distribute the load imposed on the fabric when the drape is suspended by the series of heading hooks 16, that is, by reason of the fact that the heading hooks are threaded first through the fabric, then through a loop lug 9, yand then again through the fabric and yet again through the fabric and second loop lug enables the drapery pleat forming device to carry much of the load which would be otherwise imposed on the threads of the fabric.

If desired a stiifening rib 21 may be provided along the top side 6, or if desired at both the top and bottom sides.

While ia particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and yarrangement as come within the purview of the appended claim.

What-is claimed is:

A l,pleated drapery construction, comprising: a drape having a hem at its upper side divided into a horizontal row of downwardly open pockets; a pair of rectangular frame members in each pocket; hinge means joining said frame members in substantial coincidence with the vertical centers of said pockets; vertically spaced loop elements on said frame members and disposed at the remote margins of said frame members; and drapery pins inserted through the material of the rear Walls of said drape pockets and through said loop elements to secure said remote margins of the frame members within the remote margins of said pockets.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

